Boot or shoe



(No Model.)

M. WALKER.`

BOUT 0R SHOE.

No. 330,176. Pagtemd Nov. 10, 1895-.

f' STATES-j PATENT OFFICE;

MAROELLUS WALKER, :Oni BOsfJON, vMassaoausnfrrs.v

yBoor OR SHOE.

SPECIFICATIUN forming part of Letters Pateiit No. 330,176, dated November 10, 1885.

` I Application nien august 1o, ists. serial No. mais.' (No menti.) l'

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARoELLUs WALKER,

lof Boston, (Cambridge,) in the county of Mid-` dlesexand State ofy Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to what are knownr in the boot and shoe trade as Congress' gaiters-that is, boots and shoes provided with an elasticwebbing or gering to yield in the drawing on and off ofthe gaiter and rwith the gaiter on the foot to secure its close iit `about the ankle and instep of the foot and the small of theleg immediately above the ankle.

The object of this invention isto increase `thefacility with which gaiters maybe drawn or goring.

In substance, and principally in the gaiter of this invention, the elastic webbing or gory ing' is shaped and applied so as to embrace the small of the leg at the back and on each side back of the ankle bone immediately above the counter or hind quarters, and also at each side of the foot, to extend under the ankle-bone `forward and below and along the longitudinal direction and for a portion of the length of the instep, and all the other parts of the upper are made of leather or other inelastic material, the whole producing a gaiter inwhich the toe, vamp, instep, front, or leg above and at each side of the instep covering the ankle-bone on each side and hind quarters and counter are of an inelastic material-such as leather-and the remainingportions are of an elastic webbing or goring, all substantially as hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying plate of drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, an improved gaiter of this invention is illustrated.

Figure 1 is a side View. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line a: w, Fig. l. Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of some of the leather parts of the upper and those to which theelastic webbing or goring is directly secured. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the elastic webbing before being applied to the gaiter. Fig. 6 is a sectional view in detail hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings. A is the sole, and B is its heel, and C, D, and E the parts of the upper of the gaiter making the toe a, vamp b, instep I, front f of leg above and at each side of the instep I, and covering the anklebone on each side, hind quarters, g, and counter' invside of same, all made of an inelastic materialsuch as leather-and as well known.

F is the elastic webbing or gering. This goringF is shaped to surround and embrace the small of the leg at the back and .at each side,and to be joined by stitches or otherwise to the parts of the inelastic upper which cover theankle-bones on each side and along a line back of said ankle-bones, and also to be joined by stitches or otherwise to the upper edge ofthe hind quarters, g. The elastic goring on each side ofthe gaiter has extensions H, extending forward under the ankle-bone along the upper edge of the vamp t of the upper, and to and directly under and forward of the ankle-bone, and thence following said upper edge of the part b of the upper with a curvilinear direction along its upper edge, h, and more or less corresponding to the vcurving contour longitudinally of and below the instep I, and terminating at its forward point, i, in the side and under the instep I of the gaiter. As the ankle-bones of the foot are not directly covering them is made wider on one side on the other side of the gaiter, (sec instead of equal width, as heretofore, p, a proportionate increase in the width ci the elastic goring, a very important consideration and advantage, as is obvious.

J is an extension of the hind quarters, g, upward and just above the counter and at the back of the gaiter, and above said extension the elastic gering F continues to the top of the gaiter, and in substance makes the covering for the small of the leg at the back and directly above the counter. This upward continuation of the elastic gering above thecounter is preferably made straight at the center back line, as shown, instead of` inwardly curving or concaving, as heretofore. upward extension of the hind quarters above the counter at the back prevents the heel of the foot catching upon the top of the counter in drawing the gaiter onto the foot.

L and M are straps, attached, the strap L to IOO the gaiter at the front f of the upper and the strap M to the elastic goring F at the back, and only at the upper end, K, thereof1 and thence extending down outside ofsaid gering and attached to the hind quarters, g, just above the counter, and from thence preferably continued and lasted under the insole at the heel. This attachment of strap M is shown in detail view in Fig. 6, which is a vertical sectional yiew, showing also the counter N and the hind quarter projecting above its upper edge. The straps L and M are for convenience in pulling the gaiter on cr off of the foot.

One of the essential features in the construe` tion of the gaiter just described in detail consists in the shaping of the elastic gering to embrace the back of the small of the leg and each side thereof, with the ankle-bones on each side of the foot covered by an inelastic part ef the gaiter, and also to extend under the ankle bones on each side of the foot and forward therefrom under the instep. A gaiter thus made can be most conveniently and easily put on and off of the foot, it better fits the foot over the instep about the ankles and the small ofthe leg above the ankles, and the pants are kept from friction and rubbing upon the elastic webbing, thus saving it from Wear and increaslng its durability.

As the back strap, M, is attached the elastic action of the gering is not interfered with,and 1t is a most strong one for pulling the boot ou and oft' of the foot. It is preferable to project the gering at its upper portion and at the back of the gaiter backward, as shown, Fig. l, se-

curing thereby the better shaping of the gaiter td the foot and bringing the strains upon the gering more perfectly in the lines of strains on the gaiter in putting it on and off.

The elastic gering preferably is made of one piece without seam, but can be made in pieces,

seamed at the back; and the inelastic parts of the upper may be made in any of the Wellknown modes of manufacture. 'n

Y That I claim and desire te secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A gaiter boot or shoe having an elastic gering, F, shaped, as shown, to coverthe small of the leg at its back from the counter upward and also at each side, but back of the anklebones, and thence to project at each side,with an extension, H, under and to the front of the ankle-bones and below and in line with the i11- step, in combination with an upper of an inelastic material-such as leather-shaped and constructed to cover the remaining portions of the foot, and the whole secured together substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. A gaiter boot or shoe having an elastic gering, F, shaped, as shown, to cover the small of the leg at its back from the counter upward, and with an extension, H, at each side,- but back of and crossingunder theA ankle-bones, and made wider on one side than on the other of the gaiter, in combination with an upper having a rear upward extension of inelastic material such as leather-shaped and constructed to cover the remaining portions of the foot, and the whole attached together substantially as' described, for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARCELLUS WALKER.

Witnesses: Y y

WM. S. BELLows,

ALBERT W. BROWN.

[t is hereby certified that the residence of the pateutee in Letters Patent No. 330,176, granted November 1U, 1885, upon the application of Marcellus Walker, for au improvement in Boots or Shoes, was erroneously written and printed Bostou, Massachusetts, whereas seid residence should have been written and printed Cambridge, Massachusetts; and that the seid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the seme may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Oioe.

Signed, eountersgned, and sealed this 24th day of November, A. D. 1885.

[SEAL] H. L. M ULDROW,

Acting Secretary of the Interior. Coun tersigned M. V. MONTGOMERY,

Commissioner of Patents. 

